Key architect of Transforming Health reforms warned SA Health officials it is a ‘house of straw’ that ‘will not resist the slightest stress’
A KEY architect of the controversial Transforming Health reforms has warned SA Health officials it is a “house of straw” that “will not resist the slightest stress” as it has been “hijacked by Treasury”.
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A KEY architect of the controversial Transforming Health reforms has warned SA Health officials it is a “house of straw” that “will not resist the slightest stress”.
Associate Professor Chris Zeitz, a senior SA Health figure who had helped promote the overhaul to the public, says it has now been “hijacked by Treasury”.
“The failure to take stock of the current clinician-free trajectory is one of the greatest risks to patient safety for the Medical Directorate and will now be logged as such,” he writes in a briefing document sent to senior SA Health bureaucrats and obtained by The Advertiser.
The document reveals his deep concerns over the implementation of Transforming Health.
Prof Zeitz praises the original, clinician-driven concepts but in a savage analysis dated December 30, he bluntly tells colleagues: “Following the first year of TH planning, the agenda was hijacked by Treasury, in association with (consultants) McKinsey and Co.
“As such, a number of assumptions were made that have produced a house of straw. Whilst the original principles are strong, the proposed structure will not resist the slightest stress.”
Prof Zeitz dismissed McKinsey’s modelling as “extremely simplistic” and “potentially dangerous for patients” by rewarding hospitals which produce good statistics but not necessarily the best care.
He casts doubt on the projected savings from cutting the average length of stay in hospital, describing them as “fundamentally flawed”.
“If the duration of the acute hospital stay is cut from five to three days, it does not follow that the clinical support staff required can be reduced by 40 per cent,” he states.
“The actual figure is likely to be much closer to 5-10 per cent.”
Professor Zeitz is the co-chair of the Medical Advisory Committee for Transforming Health and as Clinical Director, Medical Services, of the Central Adelaide Local Health Network, he is a top SA Health clinician.
He goes on to warn “the current operational plan has occurred largely devoid of clinical input and has certainly not involved any clinician group(s).
“The decision to deliberately exclude clinicians from the planning process to date is a fundamental flaw that will challenge the achievability of the targets.
“A taste of the clinical anger was elicited just last week when you met with physician leads for the first time to broker this subject.”
Prof Zeitz called for a “full and frank debate” about the TH implementation, saying: “This must involve a broad range of clinicians and take heed of the issues raised while collaboratively seeking solutions that will deliver the outcomes required.”
Opposition health spokesman Stephen Wade said Prof Zeitz’s insights “confirmed Transforming Health is a budget cuts program driven by Treasury bean counters”.
“It is shocking that doctors and nurses are being actively shut out of the process by the Weatherill Government,” he said.
“The revelations show the depths of deception to which the Weatherill Government has sunk in health. The Weatherill Government must scrap the farce it calls Transforming Health, scrap its multi-million dollar PR campaign to sell the changes and put patient care first.”
Clinical Ambassador for Transforming Health Professor Dorothy Keefe told The Advertiser: “Transforming Health is a clinician-led reform of our health system and its key focus is to improve health care for all South Australians.
“We always welcome and encourage robust discussion amongst our clinicians regarding the provision of health care services.
“While not all clinicians may agree on every issue, we continue to work through any concerns raised.”
WHAT HE’S SAID
“Following the first year of TH planning, the agenda was hijacked by Treasury, in association with McKinsey and Co.”
“A number of assumptions were made that have produced a house of straw.”
“While the original principles are strong, the proposed structure will not resist the slightest stress.”
“Modelling done by McKinsey was extremely simplistic ... and potentially dangerous for patients.”
“The decision to deliberately exclude clinicians from the planning process to date is a fundamental flaw.”
“The failure to take stock of the current clinician-free trajectory is one of the greatest risks to patient safety for the Medical Directorate and will now be logged as such.”